Small and wonderful things . . .

 


"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny?...It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. what you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard

A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best.




Two very handsome grandsons!  This is Gabriel and Luke enjoying their summer this year.   Love my grandkiddos.  Hate that I am missing them all growing up.  Love that they are happy and healthy.




My Daughter in Law posted this on my facebook page.  I love that she is thoughtful enough to think of me.   This is from the Green Giant Facebook page.   A healthy alternative to a Gingerbread House?  Possibly, but it would only last one day.  I suppose it would make a SUPER talking piece as the centre of a buffet table for the holidays!  But I don't think it will ever take the place of a Gingerbread house.   Thinking of the gingerbread houses I baked and decorated while my kids were growing up.  The youngsters always really enjoyed them.   They were a lot of work, but brought a lot of joy and were somewhat of a tradition.



It was Stake Conference this past weekend for our church.  Our church is divided into areas, with a leadership for that area, and each area is divided into stakes.  Then there are Wards/Congregations at a local level.   A stake embraces many Wards.   Our Ward is part of the Chester England Stake, and is in fact the Chester Ward.   Twice a year our Stake Leadership speaks to us at a conference, which runs over two days.  All the Wards within the Stake gather together to listen/watch them.   I always enjoy Stake Conference.  I am always able to take some wisdom from them and apply it to my life.  There seems to be a general theme which seems to be running through both our General and our Stake Conference  these past few conferences . . .  a hastening of the work.   I have gotten the distinct impression that the times are running down and I must make sure my lamp is filled with oil.



So happy to learn that my beloved sister is not yet diabetic, but only pre-diabetic, which means she has time to work on things.  She is very fit and a healthy eater for the most part anyways, so I am not overly concerned.  She got the good genes.  So did my brother.  I am the baddy, but it's my own fault for not having taken better care of myself.




We had a lovely day yesterday.  After church I made us some lunch and then we put classical music on the stereo.  I called my mum and spoke to her.   Afterwards Todd and I enjoyed a nice afternoon, just talking, listening to the music, reading scriptures, etc.   Then we went to visit our good friend Doreen for a bit.  She has a bad chest infection.  I told Billy he needs to get her into see a Doctor today as she needs to be on anti-biotics.  At 86, you shouldn't mess about with things like that.  Then we came home, had some supper and enjoyed a quiet evening together.   Because of the clock/time change (they went back Saturday night) I was tired and ready for bed by 8:30!  AND it was dark by about 5:30!




Having an attitude of gratitude.  This makes life infinitely better.  I am so happy that I am able to live my life with gratitude.  I hope that I always will.



Each one of you bless my life in numerous ways.  You are all special to me.  I always tell my mum, I have only ever met lovely people through blogging and on the internet. Perhaps I am just lucky.

What a nice thought.  Yes, I am lucky.

And I AM going to sort the music out today.   Something on it has messed up.  Sorry about that!

 

In The English Kitchen today . . . .  Macaroni, Cheese and Tomato Bake.


I hope your week gets off to a good start, and that the days ahead of you are filled with a ton of small and wonderful things . . . Don't forget!

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And I do too!!

I wander as I wander . . . out under the leaves . . .

There is a sameness about the summer trees when the forms of bole and bough are covered in heavy green leaf . . . but in the autumn . . . when the leaves begin to fall one by one . . . the personalities of each  tree begin to show in their individual outlines and marked colouring  . . .




Gardens blaze with sumach, liquidambar, maple and cherry . . . . with the beautiful parrotia persica outshining all . . .  a burning dome of gold and crimson leaf . . .




The oaks in the woods are still green above the brown bracken, but the birch tosses it's yellow leaves into the wind . . . slim and graceful they dance amongst the solid masses of the fruited thorns. . .




A lane lined with beeches is a sight to take away your breath . . .  the sun drawing the fire out of the bronze and coppery leaves that burn above the head and smoulder beneath the feet . . .




Drifting mist and burning bush
along the garden ways . . .
Blue smoke rising in the air
in soft and silvery haze . . . 
Webs draped across spangled hedges,
Gauze wisps upon the lawn . . . 
Dying roses wan and lovely
in the grey October dawn,
Across the way a white birch weeps
sighing wind and falling leaf . . . 
a small bird fluting sweety,
heedless of the tree's quiet grief.



All the photos here this morning were taking during one of the last Autumn walks we took with Jess through the estate down south when we were living there.



It was a beautiful environment for sure and Jess loved wandering freely on the grounds.  I doubt she would have been happy living in a place where she once more had to be fettered . . .  and could not wander about with impunity.



I painted a little witch yesterday afternoon.  Todd says she is his favourite of all the paintings I have done.   She is for sale.  I thought I had a buyer but it fell through . . .  and if she doesn't sell, well, no great loss because then I get to keep her.  I begin to think I will be dead before I gain any recognition for my work.   I've tried just about everything to get it out there to no avail.  I guess my mother was right when she said that an artist could not make a living . . . some do, of course . . .  but I think that must be a rareity.


 

In the English Kitchen today  . . .  Monster Fingers  . . .  otherwise known as Elder Newman's Toes. ☺

Have a safe and blessed Sabbath.  No matter what you get up to  . . .  Don't forget!

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And I do too!

How to Spend a Week . . .

On Monday I went Grocery shopping.  Now, I am one of those peculiar people that just loves being in a grocery shop.   I like to take my time, wandering up and down the aisles, looking at everything, checking out what's new, thinking about what I might like to do with whatever catches my fancy.  I do make a list each time and I always get what's on my list . . .  but I also walk out with extras as well.  I don't know why I cannot resist a good buy.  This week it was bags of celebrations.



Did you know they come in bags now?   I know!  Baby Snickers, Mars, Malteasers, Caramel, Twix, Galaxy and Bounty, in a bag.   Halloween is coming.  These will come in handy.  That's why I bought them.  And we haven't opened them.  Yet.

Speaking of bags . . .  They are charging 5p a bag now at the shops.   I have my own.   I think it's outrageous to charge 5p for one of those cheap little bags that tear the moment you put something into them.  I wish they would go back to paper bags.  I would pay 5p a bag for paper bags.  I would.  At least they come in useful, or at least MORE useful.




Not a great picture I know, but  . . .  cell phone pics normally aren't that great.   I spent Tuesday getting ready for the Halloween Get Together with all the missionaries on Tuesday night.  It was fun.  After my blood tests in the morning,  and a few bits I did on my own . . . Sister Johansen and I spent a pleasant afternoon putting together some goodies for the gang.  We did cupcakes . . .  BAT cupcakes, Spooky Shepherds Pie . . . Grinning Apples, Caterpillar Grapes and Mummy Pizzettes.



These guys helped with the Pizzettes . . .  (that's Elder Hollingsworth on the left, he's 6 foot 7 inches tall!  And Elder Newman on the right.   They are Zone Leaders in our District.)




I had made Monster Finger Cookies . . . but they ended up being called Elder Newman's toes.  Elder Newman had an issue with one of his toenails a week or so ago.   I won't go into it, but it was rather painful and in any case, these became Elder Newman's toes . . .  which is probably more creepy and disgusting than monster fingers, haha.



Sister Barlow and Sister Gregson.   They were in deep discussion over some personality test/game we were playing.

Love, LOVE the missionaries.  I do. I do. I do. I do. I doooooo . . .
WE always enjoy being in their company.



On Wednesday we were doing splits with the missionaries.   Todd went with Elder Johansen to the chapel and Sister Johansen and I took their car and went to visit an in-active member who had just had a baby.  Neither of us could remember  the exact address of the house, but I remembered the street and sorta location as Todd and I had picked up the daughter there one time for Mutual.   Anyways . . .  Sister Johansen did a super job of driving us to the street, even though it was dark . . . really dark . . .  and she drove really slow . . .  really slow . . .  (I think she is so brave to drive over here at all, I really do) . . . and we ended up going up and down this street a couple of times in the car and a couple of times on foot . . .  and it was one of the scariest streets we have on our housing estate . . .  well, the second scariest at any rate, and there was  a drunk man muttering obscenities to himself and anyone who would listen.  We got ourselves back into the car and locked the doors then.   In any case two nice young girls finally pointed us in the right direction and we found the house.   sister Johansen had a gift for the new baby and we talked to the Sister on the doorstep.  Her partner would not have wanted us in the house so we stayed outdoors.

I think that is really sad when one person in a relationship is so domineering that they squelch the life out of the other person and dictate what they can or can't choose to believe.  It's just wrong.  Plain wrong.  Anyways, she was happy to see us, has the cutest little baby girl and was very grateful for both the visit and the gift.



Thursday . . .  we were supposed to go to the Temple.  Neither one of us slept good Wednesday night.   We ended up going back to bed.  So.  Not.  Like.  Us.  We didn't get up til ten a.m.  Again.  So. Not. Like. Us.  Thursday was a wash out.



(Sister Barlow, Sister Gregson, Sister Walker)

Friday was a service day.  Painting a member's lounge.  Fun.  Fun.  Fun.



Such a great group of youngsters.



No extension ladders are needed when you have a six foot seven elder.  He can reach everything.



Fun times.



Good times.



And they all began last Saturday with this  . . .  yes, Baptism's are the greatest.

It's always nice to help celebrate and participate in one our Heavenly Father's children taking positive steps towards a brighter future.


 

 These are some of the best times of our lives.  They truly are.  It's transfer week again this coming Wednesday and I just know we will be saying goodbye again to some of these precious youngsters.   More will take their place and we will come to love them just as much.  I am grateful for the memories we are building.

And that is how you spend a week.



Baking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Blueberry and Lemon Loaf.  Good stuff.  I did not indulge.

Have a great weekend!  It's Stake Conference here and the clocks go back an hour tonight.  Don't forget!

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And I do too!

Friday Finds

A few things that I discover each week that tickle my fancy and I think I might use. They might even tickle yours.



Homemade Baking Mix.  This is something I used to use a lot more of in the olden days.   Found on Happy Money Saver.



How to make paper mache hens out of cereal boxes.  You can find the Tutorial here.  I think they are so cute!




This little red bird ornament is so cute.   Found on Etsy.  How hard would this be to make.  Not that difficult I don't think!



Free Printable Christmas Tag.  Found on The Life of the Party.



Fab and Free Christmas Fonts from Design Editor.  I love different fonts.  I will be downloading some of these for sure!



How to make chalk paint from Clumsy Crafter.



DIY Wooden Hanger Necklace Holder, from Dwell Beautiful.  Great blog!



A really cute pencil holder made from old rulers.  I love it!! Found on Eighteen25. 




How to machine sew on a binding.  Found on Bloomin Workshop.



12 Homemade Holiday Gifts that aren't Cookies.   There is everything here from spice rubs to homemade Vanilla extract.  Found on 100 Days of Real Food. 

And that's it for this week!  I hope you found something useful here!  I know I sure did!

A thought to carry with you through today  . . .


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Purpose is found in those quiet moments
when no one but God
sees the work of your hands.
~Darlene Schacht
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Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Grilled Chicken with Broccoli Pesto Pasta.  Deliciously healthy!!

Have a fab Friday! Hope it's a nice one for you.
Don't forget!

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And I do too!